The Challenger Disaster by Chloe Lippert

The Disaster

chloelippert3 — 2024-04-13 03:13:10 UTC

On January 28, 1986, the NASA space shuttle Challenger tragically exploded 73 seconds after liftoff, resulting in the loss of all seven crew members. This event was a critical moment in the history of space exploration and had a profound impact on the public's perception of spaceflight. The disaster unfolded due to the failure of the O-rings in the rocket boosters, allowing hot combustion gasses to escape and compromise the airtight seal. Despite warnings and concerns about the effect of low temperatures on the O-rings, the launch proceeded, resulting in this catastrophic event. This disaster not only led to a reevaluation of NASA's safety protocols but also served as a reminder of the risks associated with space exploration.

Cape Canaveral

chloelippert3 — 2024-04-13 03:20:23 UTC

The location of where Challenger was launched did not play a crucial roll in the disaster but it did cause the shuttle and crew to land in the Atlantic ocean.

The Crew

chloelippert3 — 2024-04-13 03:24:50 UTC

Photo of the Challenger crew Left: STS-51L crew members Michael J. Smith, front row left, Francis R. “Dick” Scobee, Ronald E. McNair; Ellison S. Onizuka, back row left, S. Christa McAuliffe, Gregory B. Jarvis, and Judith A. Resnik.

This photo was obtained from the NASA website and taken in 1986.

The launch

chloelippert3 — 2024-04-13 03:28:08 UTC

Photo of the Challenger launch taken in 1986 and obtained from the NASA website.

The Disaster

chloelippert3 — 2024-04-13 03:30:35 UTC

Photo of the Challenger exploding taken in 1986 and obtained from the BBC website.

chloelippert3 — 2024-04-13 03:36:44 UTC

Diagram of The Space Shuttle solid rocket booster field joint assembly. This source was obtained from Wikipedia.

Rogers Commission

chloelippert3 — 2024-04-13 03:40:34 UTC

The members of the Rogers Commission. This commission was responsible for investigating the disaster. This photo was taken in 1986 and was obtained from Wikipedia.

Roger Boisjoly

chloelippert3 — 2024-04-13 03:45:56 UTC

Picture of Roger Boisjoly who warned higher ups at NASA about the O-rings and that they could be compromised in cold weather. This photo was taken in 1986 and was obtained from The New York Times.